Textile thread winder with grooved drive roll

ABSTRACT

In a strand or textile thread winding apparatus, the combination of a reciprocating strand or thread traversing mechanism for receiving the strand being wound under tension and guiding the strand to the package winding device while traversing the strand back and forth to form a traversed wound package, and a cylindrical roll, preferably a rotating drive roll, positioned in the path of travel of the strand between the traversing mechanism and the package winding mechanism and having grooves in the outside surface thereof cooperating with the traversing mechanism for controlling the traversing action on the strand by receiving the strand in respective grooves and holding the strand in the respective traversed positions which the strand is placed during the traversing action of the traversing mechanism to aid in guiding and controlling the strand.

United States Patent Morgan et al.

[ TEXTILE THREAD WINDER WITH GROOVED DRIVE ROLL [72] inventors: Bert B. Morgan; George F.

Schroeder, both of Asheville, NC.

[73] Assignee: Northrop Carolina, lnc.,

Asheville, NC.

[22] Filed: May 3, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 139,640 v [52] US. Cl. ..242/l8 DD, 242/43 [51] Int. Cl ..B65h 54/02, B65h 54/28 [58] Field of Search ..242/18 DD, 43, 35.5 R

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 613,384 11/1898 McCausland ..242/l8 DD 2,664,249 12/ 1953 Wright ..242I43 3,092,339 6/1963 Hill, Jr. et a]. ..242/ 18 DD 3,116,887 1/1964 Rehm ..242/18 DD 3,241,778 3/1966 Bourgeas ..242/l8 DD FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS v 1,111,070 7/1961 Germany ..242/18 DD [15] 3,690,578 [451 Sept. 12, 1972 Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Attorney-Patron, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson [57] ABSTRACT In a strand or textile thread winding apparatus, the combination of a reciprocating strand or. thread traversing mechanism for receiving the strand being wound under tension and guiding the strand to the package winding device while traversing the strand back and forth to form a traversed wound package, and a cylindrical roll, preferably a rotating drive roll, positioned in the path of travel of the strand between the traversing mechanism and the package winding mechanism and having grooves in the outside surface thereof cooperating with the traversing mechanism for controlling the traversing action on the strand by receiving the strand in respective grooves and holding the strand in the respective traversed positions which the strand is placed during the traversing action of the traversing mechanism to aid in guiding and controlling the strand.

THREAD 50mm":

PATENTEDSEP 12 I972 SHEET 3 BF 6 PATENTEDSEP 12 1972 SHEET l 0F 6 PATENT E I I 12 3,690,578

sum 5 or 6 This invention relates to the combination in a strand winding apparatus, particularly a textile thread winder, of a reciprocating strand traversing mechanism and a grooved roll for cooperation therewith to aid in guiding and controlling the strand during the traversing action.

In strand winding apparatus, particularly textile thread winders, it is customary to have some sort of traversing mechanism for traversing the strand or textile thread back and forth in guiding of the strand or thread to the package forming devices for forming a traversed package of strand material or textile thread. Due to variations in the angle of the thread from the source to the package forming devices and, often, the increases and decreases in the tension of the strand or thread, problems have been encountered in controlling and guiding of the strand or thread by the reciprocating traversing mechanism. Prior attempts at overcoming these problems have been limited to various and complicated designs for a traversing mechanism. However, all of these prior attempts have been somewhat unsatisfactory. t

Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to provide means in combination with a reciprocating strand or textile thread traversing mechanism for aiding in guiding and controlling of the strand during .the traversing action thereon by the traversing mechanisms.

According to this invention, the. above object may be accomplished by providing, in a strand winding apparatus having means for winding a package of strand material under tension, the combination of a reciprocating strand traversing means for receiving the strand being wound under tension and guiding the strand to the package winding means while traversing the strand back and forth to form a traversed wound package, and a cylindrical roll positioned in the path of travel of the strand between the traversing means and the package winding means and having groove means in the outside surface thereof cooperating with the traversing means for controlling the traversing action on the strand by receiving the strand in respective grooves and holding the strand in respective traversed positions which the strand is placed during the traversing action of the traversing mechanism to aid in guiding and controlling the strand.

Preferably, the winding apparatus is a textile thread winding apparatus in which the grooved roll is a driven rotating drive roll and in which the apparatus has at least one freely rotatable package roll positioned on one side of the drive roll for engagement therewith to be driven thereby for the winding of thread and mounted for linear movement away from the drive roll as the thread package builds thereon. Preferably, the reciprocating thread traversing mechanism is positioned on the other side of the grooved drive roll for receiving the thread from a source and guiding the thread around the grooved drive roll to the package roll while traversing the thread back and forth longitudinally of the drive roll.

The grooves in the drive roll cooperating with the reciprocating traversing mechanism may comprise concentric grooves, right-handed helical grooves, or lefthanded helical grooves, or may comprise a combination in which the medial portion of the roll has concentric grooves and the left-hand outside portion of the roll has left-handangle'd helical grooves and the right-hand outside portion of the roll has right-hand angled helical grooves. The grooves may be triangular, square, or sinusoidal in cross-sectional configuration or other desired shapes.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a textile thread winding apparatus and grooved drive roll according to this invention and showing a single thread being wound on one package roll thereof;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken through a package roll, the drive roll and the traversing mechanism of the winding apparatus of FIG. 1 and taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a grooved drive roll according to this invention illustrating helical grooves extending around the outside circumference and having a left-hand angle with respect to the direction of travel of the textile thread;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a grooved drive roll according to this invention illustrating helical grooves extending around the outside circumference and having a right-hand angle with respect to the direction of travel of the textile thread;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a grooved drive roll according to this invention illustrating concentric grooves extending around the outside circumference of the roll; 7

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a grooved drive roll according to this invention illustrating a plurality of concentric grooves extending around the circumference of the roll and disposed in a medial portion, helical grooves extending around the outside circumference of the roll and having a right-hand angle at a right-hand outside portion of the roll and helical grooves extending around the outside circumference of the roll and having a left-hand angle at a left-hand outside portion of the roll;

vFIG.'7 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 7-7 of FIG. 5 and illustratinggrooves having a generally triangular cross-sectional configuration;

FIG. 8 is a view like FIG. 7 illustrating grooves having a generally square cross-sectional configuration;

FIG. 9 is a view like FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrating grooves having a generally sinusoidal configuration;

FIG. 10 is a slightly enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 10-10 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional detail of the top of the upper carriage assembly of the winding apparatus and taken generally at the arrow 11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional detail of the bottom of the carriage assembly of FIG. 11 and taken generally at the arrow 12 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken through the carriage assembly of FIGS. 11 and 12 and taken generally along the line 13-13 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 14 is a sectional detail showing the ball screw and ball nut mechanism and taken generally along the line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

Referring now to the drawings, a specific form of winding apparatus according to this invention is illusreference numeral 10. The thread winder illustrated in the drawings is adapted to wind thread T received from a thread source into wound packages P, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The winding apparatus 10 comprises a stationary, enclosed housing 12 of generally modular construction so that the winding apparatus 10 may be positioned individually or in banks or groups of such winders in a textile operation.

A generally cylindrical drive roll 14 is mounted for rotation on the housing 12 in a fixed position and extends generally horizontally outwardly therefrom, as may be seen in FIG. 1. The drive roll 14 may be constructed of a suitable metal material or otherwise and is driven by a motor 15 mounted within the housing 12 on one wall of the housing by means of mounting plates 16, as shown in FIG. 10. The motor 15 includes an outwardly extending shaft 17 which carries a suitable pulley 18 for receiving an endless belt 19. The endless belt 19 also passes around a pulley 20 carried by a rotatable shaft 21 which is suitably mounted in a fixed rotatable position in the housing 12 and extends outwardly therefrom .and'is connected with the drive roll 14 so that the motor 15 may rotate the drive roll 14 in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 1 through the abovedescribed belt and pulley arrangement. the portion of the housing 12 through which the shaft 21 passes for connection with the drive roll 14 is suitably sealed, for the reasons to be discussed below.

The winding apparatus 10 further includes a traverse mechanism 25 mounted on the housing 12 and extending outwardly therefrom generally parallel with the drive roll 14 and on one side thereof, as shown in FIG. 1, for receiving the thread T from a thread source and for guiding the thread around the drive roll 14 to a package roll (described hereinafter), while reciprocating or traversing back and forth along a path of travel which is generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the drive roll 14 for traversing the thread T onto the package P being wound by the apparatus 10. This traverse mechanism 25 includes a motor 26 suitably mounted within the housing 12 and having a drive shaft 27' extending therefrom and operatively connected with reciprocating element 28 of the traverse mechanism 25 for operating same. The shaft 27 and traverse mechanism 25 also include suitable means for sealing the portion of the housing 12 through which the shaft 27 passes, for reasons to be discussed below. The

detailed construction of the traverse mechanism 25 has not been illustrated in the drawings and inasmuch as these traverse mechanisms are conventional and well understood by those with ordinary skill in the art, further explanation herein is not necessary.

The winding apparatus 10 of this invention, as illustrated in the drawings, further includes a pair of freely rotatable, linearly movable package rolls 30 for carry ing thread package cores C to form a wound package thereon. 'The package rolls 30 extend generally horizontally outwardly from the housing 12 and are generally parallel with the drive roll 14 on the other side thereof from the traverse mechanism 25 to be driven by the drive roll 14, in a manner described below. The package rolls 30 receive thread T from the traverse mechanism 25 for simultaneous or alternative winding on package cores C on both or one of the package rolls 30.

The package rolls 30 are disposed above and below each other,-as shown in FIG. 1, and are linearly movable away from the drive roll 14, along inclined paths of travel which form upwardly extending and downwardly extending acute angles, respectively, with a horizontal plane through the drive roll 14, as shown in FIG. 1, so that each of the package rolls 30 may be alternately or simultaneously moved into frictional, peripheral, driving engagement with the drive roll 14 for simultaneously or alternatively winding thread T on both of the package rolls 30. v

The package rolls 30 are generally of the expandable, self-contained, chuck member, type which, as

shown in FIG. 13, include bladder members 31 adapted to inflate and expand by the insertion of air from air line 32 on receiving of the package cores C and air brake means 33 for precluding rotation of the package rolls 30 before, after and during an initial or final winding operation by the insertion of air into the brake means 33 from air line 34. The specific details of the construction of these package rolls 30, per se, are given in U. S. Pat. No. 3,517,891, issued June 30, 1970 and assigned to the assignee of the present application. Reference may be had to that patent for a complete disclosure of the operation of thesepackage rolls.

Associated with each of the package rolls 30 is a carriage assembly, generally designated by the reference numeral 40. These carriage assemblies are contained within the enclosed housing 12 and the carriage assembly for each of the package rolls 30 is substantially identically constructed, as may be seen in FIG. 10. FIGS. 11 and 12 are generally top plan views of the upper carriage assembly 40 of FIG. 10 and that carriage assembly will be described in detail below. Each carriage assembly will be given, where illustrated, like reference numerals inasmuch as like components are contained in each.

Each of the carriage assemblies 40 includes a stationary portion 42 which is generally rectangular and includes downwardly extending flange portions 42a around the outer periphery thereof and top plates 42b, as may be seen in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12. It is noted that the bottom carriage assembly 40, as shown in FIG. 10,

is reversed and the flange members 42a extend upwardly and the plate members 42b are bottom plates. The stationary carriage portion 42 is mounted in a fixed position on the housing 12 by means of bolts 43, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 particularly. The stationary carriage portion 42 includes longitudinally extending carriage rods 44 mounted in flange members 420.

The carriage assemblies 40 further include movable portions 46 mounted on the stationary portion 42 and particularly the rods 44 thereof by any suitable bearings for reciprocating linear movement along the longitudinal axes of the stationary rods 44. The movable portion 46 of the carriage assembly 40 is secured to and carries the respective package rolls 30 for linear movement therewith, as may be seen in FIGS. 11 and 12. The package rolls 30 include suitable bearings for rotation thereof with respect to the movable carriage portions 46. The carriage assemblies 40 are generally disposed in the inclined paths of travel which the package rolls travel. Accordingly, the carriage assemblies 40 carry the package rolls 30 along their upwardly and downwardly inclined paths of travel toward and away from the drive roll 14.

The winding apparatus further includes mechanisms contained within the housing 12 and operatively associated with each of the package rolls for maintaining a desired predetermined pressure relationship between the drive roll 14 and the respective package rolls 30 and for linearly driving the respective package rolls 30.

Each of the mechanisms comprises a reversible, variable torque motor mounted within the housing 12 on one wall thereof, asshown in FIG. l0."The torque motor 50-has an outwardly extending driven shaft 51 which is connected to one end of a universal joint 52 and the other end of the universal joint 52 is connected to and drives a ball screw shaft 53 having spiral, ball receiving grooves 54 therein. The ball screw shaft 53 is suitably rotatably mounted in bearings 55 and 56 carried by the stationary carriage portion 42, as may be seen in FIG. 12. Accordingly, rotation of the torque motor 50 causes rotation of the ball screw'shaft 53 through the bearings 55 and 56.

The movable carriage portion 46 has a ball nut 60 secured thereto, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 14. The ball nut 60 comprises a housing 61 containing a plurality of balls therein arranged in such a manner that the ball screw shaft 53 passes through the ball nut 60 and the balls 62 engage the grooves 54 so that rotary movement of the screw shaft will be convertedinto linear movement of the ball nut 60 and thereby cause linear movement of the movable carriage portion 46 and the respective package rolls 30 carried thereby. Accordingly, rotation of the torque motor 50 in opposite directions willcau'se opposite linear movement of the package rolls 30 toward and away from the drive roll 14 through the above-described connections.

Each of the'mechanisms for driving' the respective package rolls and for maintaining a predetermined pressure relationship includes a bi-directional damper apparatus 65 operatively connected with the ball screw shaft 53 and each comprising generally a torque brake 66 which may be of any suitable form and including an outwardly extending shaft 67 carrying a pulley 68. The pulley 68 carries a belt 69 which also passes around a pulley 70 mounted on the ball screw shaft 53. The bidirectional dampers 65 prohibit excessive acceleration of the movable carriage portions 46 and the respective package rolls 30 when being driven from one extreme linear position to the other. The dampers 65 also minimize any tendency toward vibration of the package rolls during the winding operation.

There is further provided a hydraulic shock absorber 75, as shown particularly in FIG. 12, for each of the carriage assemblies 40. These hydraulic shock absorbers each comprises a cylinder 76 secured to a flange portion 42a of the fixed or stationary carriage portion 42 and a piston 77 extending from the other end thereof. The piston 77 includes an extending rod 78 which is fixed to the movable carriage portion 46. The cylinder 76 includes an adjustment knob 79. These shock absorbers 75, by the above arrangement, control the rate of contact between the drive roll 14 and the package rolls 30. There are also provided bumper type shock absorbers 82 secured to the fixed carriage portions 42, as shown in FIG. 12, and adapted to be con- ,tacted by an extension of the movable carriage portions 46 for bufiing the travel of the package rolls 30 and the movable carriage portions 46 as they reach the end of their paths of travel away from the drive roll 14.

Due to the geometry of the upwardly extending and downwardly extending inclined paths of travel of the package rolls 30, which form acute angles with respect to the horizontal, forces are introduced which must be cancelled if proper package roll to drive roll predetermined pressure is maintained throughout the winding operation. Acc ordingly, compensating mechanisms 84 and 85 are provided for the upper package roll and carriage assembly and the lower package roll and carriage assembly, respectively. The upper package roll compensating mechanism 84, as best shown in FIG. 11, comprises a cased roller spring 86 carried by the stationary carriage portion 42 and having a cable 87 extending therefrom and attached to a counterbalance cam 88 also mounted on the stationary carriage portion 42. The counterbalance-cam 88 includes another cable 89 extending therefrom and around guide pulleys 90 and 91 carried by stationary carriage portion 42. The other end of the cable 89 is secured to the movable carriage portion 46, as shown in FIG. 12.

The counterbalance cam profile 88 is determined by combining forces due to package weight increase, forces due to gravity, forces due to the change in tangent point between package and drive rolls as the wound package diameter increases, and forces due to the drive roll to package roll pressure reduction that is necessary.

The compensating mechanism 85 for the downwardly moving lower package roll and carriage assembly 40, as best shown in FIG. 10, comprises a constant force extension spring 95 having one end thereof secured to the housing 12 and the other end thereof attached to a cable 96 which passes around a guide pulley 97 mounted on the housing l2 and is attached at its other end to the movable carriage portion 46 of the lower carriage assembly 40.

As shown in FIG. 1, the winding apparatus housing 12 has slots therein for the linear travel of the upper and lower package rolls 30 which include sealing means'for sealing off the interior of the housing 12 from the exterior thereof. Each of these sealing means for each of the package rolls comprises a belt 100, as shown particularly in FIGS. 12 and 13, which passes around rollers 101 and 102 at each end of the slots in the housing and has its ends attached to a cable 103 which passes around pulleys 104 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 13) to form an endless arrangement. The belt is attached to and surrounds the connecting portion between the package roll 30 and the movable carriage portion 46 to move therewith as these mechanisms move in their linear path of travel. Suitable rubber seals may be mounted on the housing 12 for rubbing engagement with the belt 100 to complete the seal. Thus, the entire housing 12 is enclosed and sealed from a hostile environment that may surround the exterior of the winding apparatus 10 so as to protect the interior components of the housing 12.

Additionally, there is provided a solenoid operated latch mechanism for the lower carriage assembly 40, as shown in FIG. 10, comprising a solenoid 111, a

latch member 112 pivotally mounted on the stationary carriage portion 42 and connected to solenoid 111 to be controlled thereby, and a latch member 113 mounted in fixed position on the movable carriage portion 46. The latch mechanism 110 is adapted to latch the carriage portions 42 and 46 together at the position illustrated in FIG. 10 for doffing of a wound package P.

In accordance with this invention, the elongate cylindrical drive roll 14 having a right-hand end and a lefthand end (as viewed in FIGS. 3-6) and includes grooves 120 in the outside surface of the drive roll extending around the circumference thereof throughout the length thereof for cooperating with the traversing mechanism 25 for controlling the traversing action on the thread T by receiving the thread in respective grooves 120 and holding the thread in the respective traversed positions which the thread is placed during the traversing action of the traversing mechanism 25 to aid in guiding and controlling the thread T.

As may be seen particularly in FIG. I, as the reciprocating element 28 of the traversingmechanism 25 reciprocates or traverses back and forth longitudinally of the drive roll 14, the angle and length of path of travel of thread T from the thread source, around the driveroll l4 and to the package roll 30 will vary, thus increasing and decreasing the tension in the thread T. This results in the thread T trying to take a path of least resistance to the package roll 30 and thus not forming a uniform traversed package P. By the use of grooves 120 on the drive roll 14, the grooves 120 will mechanically hold the thread T in the respective traversed positions as the reciprocating element 28 of the traversing mechanism 25 traverses back and forth.

Referring to FIGS. 3-9, the grooves 120 may comprise left-hand helical grooves extending-around the outside circumference of the drive roll 14 and having a left-hand angle with respect to the direction of travel of the strand or disposed at an angle toward the left-hand end of the roll of less than 90 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the roll as shown in FIG. 3. The grooves 120 may comprise right-hand helical grooves extending around the outside circumference of the drive roll 14 and having a right-hand angle with respect to the direction of travel of the thread T or disposed at an angle toward the right-hand end of the roll of less than 90 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the roll, as shown in FIG. 4. Also, the grooves 120 may comprise concentric grooves extending around the outside circumference of the drive roll 14 disposed at generally at 90 angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the roll as shown in FIG. 5.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, the grooves 120 may comprise a plurality of concentric grooves extending around the outside surface of the drive roll 14 and disposed in a medial portion 122 of the roll 14, helical grooves extending around the outside circumference of the roll 14 and having a right-hand angle with respect to the direction of travel of the thread T and disposed in an outside right-hand portion 123 of the roll 14, and helical grooves extending around the outside circumference of the roll 14 and having a left-hand angle with respect to the direction of travel of the thread T and disposed in an outside left-hand portion 124 of the roll 14. This arrangement will aid in guiding and traversing the thread T in the outside portions of the drive roll 14 by angling of the grooves in these outside portions in the direction of traversing motion of the traversing mechanism 25.

Additionally, the grooves in the drive roll 14 may have a generally triangular cross-sectional configuration as shown in FIG. 7, a generally square crosssectional configuration as shown in FIG. 8, or a generally sinusoidal cross-sectional configuration as shown in FIG. 9. The depth of the grooves 120, the width of the grooves 120, the shape of the grooves 120 and the angling of the grooves, etc., will be determined depending upon the type of thread or strand material being wound.

By the above arrangement of the winding apparatus 10, the respect variable torque, reversible motors 50 can drive the package rolls 30 linearly toward and away from the drive roll 14 for start-up and doffing of packages P by driving the movable carriage portions 46 in the desired direction through the ball screw shaft 53 and ball nut 60 and can hold the package rolls 30 and the thread cores C thereon in frictional, peripheral, driving engagement with the drive roll 14and maintain predetermined pressure relationships between the rolls for thread winding by driving the movable carriage portions 46 and the package rolls 30 in a direction toward the drive roll 14 so that the linear movement of the package rolls 30 away from the drive roll 14 during buildup of a thread package P will overcome the driving forces of the torque motors 50 and cause the torque motors to stall. Since the torque motors 50are variable torque motors, the amount of torque applied thereby can be varied as desired to obtain the desired predetermined pressure relationship between drive roll and package rolls. The reciprocating traversing mechanism 25 and the grooves 120 in the drive roll 14 will cooperate to guide and control the thread T for the winding of a uniform traversed package P.

Specifically, the winding apparatus 10 may be provided with any suitable control circuit and, while the details of such a control circuit will not be given herein or specifically described, an exemplary operation will be briefly described.

The winding apparatus 10 may include a control panel 130, as illustrated in FIG. 1, having buttons thereon for initiating the operation thereof. The three adjacent buttons at the top of control panel are for controlling the upper package roll 30 and the three adjacent buttons at the bottom of control panel 130 are for controlling the lower package roll 30. The control circuit includes suitable switches adapted to be operated by the movable carriage portion 46 of the carriage mechanism 40 and these switches are indicated in FIG. 12 and given the reference characters X, Y and Z.

Referring particularly to FIG. 15, when both package rolls 30 are in the retracted or doff position which is the linear position at the extreme end of the path of travel away from the drive roll 14, an operator will press the START button S1 on the control panel and adjust the speeds of the drive roll 14 and the traverse mechanism 25 from any suitable adjustments to the drive motors thereof. Empty package cores C are then placed on the package rolls 30.

The operator then depresses the READY button R for one or both of the package rolls. This energizes the latch solenoid 111 for the lower carriage assembly 40 to disengage the latch mechanism 110 and initiates operation of the torque motors 50 to move the package rolls 30 from the doff positions toward the drive roll 14. Also, air pressure from the package roll brake means 33 will be removed to allow rotation of the package rolls 30 and air pressure will be applied to the bladder members 31 for expanding the same and holding the cores C in fixed positions on the package rolls 30.

forth a preferred embodiment of theinvention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in As the package rolls 30 reach the half-way point of 10 their path of travel toward the drive roll 14, switch Z will be actuated by the movable carriage-portion 46 to reduce the voltage on the upper torque motor only to slow down the travel of the downwardly moving upper package roll 30. When the package rolls 30 reach the drive roll 14, they will frictionally engage the drive roll 14 and accelerate to the desired winding speed.

The operator then depresses the THREAD RUN button TR, as shown in FIG. 1, for the desired package roll 30 upon which a winding operation is to be performed. Operation of this button will switch the voltage to the torque motor 50 to that preselected for the winding operation and will de-energize the latch solenoid 111 to allow the latch member 112 to drop back down into its lower position for again engaging the latch member 113 when the lower carriage portion 46 has again reached the doff position.

The wound package of thread then begins building on the cores C on the package rolls 30 which moves the package rolls 30 against the predetermined torque exerted by the motors 50 to stall the torque motors and maintain the predetermined pressure relationships therebetween. The voltage applied to the torque motors 50 may be varied during this winding operation to produce a variable torque, as desired.

As the packages P build on the package rolls 30 and the package rolls 30 reach the half-way point of their travel away from the drive roll 14, the switch Z will again be engaged and reset.

After the package P has been completely formed and doffing is desired, the operator depresses the DOFF button D, as shown in FIG. 1, for the desired package roll and the torque motor voltage reverses polarity and drives the desired package roll 30 away from engagement with the drive roll 14 toward the doff position at the extreme end of its path of travel. When the package rolls 30 reach the doff position, switches X and Y are actuated'which remove power from the torque motors 50 and allow the lower carriage to latch into position by the latch mechanism 110.

With the package rolls 30 in the doff position, suitable timers are initiated following which the air pressure to the package roll brake mechanism 33 will be supplied to brake the package rolls 30 and cause the same to stop rotating and air pressure will be removed from the bladders 31 to allow the wound packages P to be removed from the package rolls 30. The above operation may then be repeated for one or both of the package rolls 30.

Thus, it may be seen that this invention has provided a winding apparatus including mechanisms for accurately forming a traversed package and which will satisfactorily and easily maintain a desired predetermined pressure relationship between drive and package rolls for consistency in the winding operations thereof. In the drawings and specification there has been set a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

That which is claimed is: 1. In a strand winding apparatus having means for winding a package of the strand material under tension the combination of:

a reciprocating strand traversing means for receiving the strand being wound under tension and guiding the strand to the package winding means while traversing the strand back and forth to form a traversed wound package; and a cylindrical roll having a right-hand end and a lefthand end and positioned in the path of travel of the strand between said traversing means and the package winding means and having a plurality of groove means in the outside surface thereof which extend around the out side circumference thereof throughout the length thereof for cooperating with said traversing means for controlling the traversing action on the strand by receiving the strand in respective grooves and holding the strand in the respective traversed positions which the strand is placed during the traversing action of said traversing means to aid in guiding and controlling the strand.

2. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, in which said groove means in the outside surface of said cylindrical roll comprises a plurality of concentric grooves extending-around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at generally a angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll.

3. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, in which said groove means comprises right-hand helical grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at an angle toward said right-hand end of said roll of less than 90 with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll.

4. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim '1, in which said groove means comprises left-hand helical grooves extending around the outside circum ference of said roll and disposed at an angle toward said left-hand end of said roll of less than 90 with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll.

5. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, in which said groove means comprises a plurality of concentric grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at generally a 90 angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll and disposed in a medial portion of said roll, right-hand helical grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at an angle toward said right-hand end of said roll of less than 90 with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll and disposed in an outside right-hand portion of said roll, and helical grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at an angle toward said left-hand end of said roll of less than 90 with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll and disposed in an outside left-hand portion of said roll.

6. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, in which said groove means comprises grooves having a generally triangular cross-sectional configuration.

7. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, in which said groove means comprises grooves having a generally square cross-sectional configuration.

8. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, in which said groove means comprises grooves having a generally sinusoidal cross-sectional configuration.

9. The combination of:

textile thread winding apparatus having a driven rotating drive roll having a right-hand end and a left-hand end, at least one freely rotatably package roll positioned on one side of said drive roll for engagement therewith to be driven thereby for the winding of thread and mounted for linear movement away from said drive roll as the thread package builds thereon, and a reciprocating thread traversing mechanism positioned on the other side of said drive roll for receiving the thread from a source and guiding the thread around said drive r'oll'to said package roll while traversing the thread back and forth longitudinally of said drive roll; and

a plurality of groove means in the outside surface of said drive roll which extend around the outside circumference and throughout the length of said drive roll for cooperating with said traversing mechanism for controlling the traversing action on the textile thread by receiving the thread in respective grooves and holding the thread in the respective traversed positions which the thread is placed during the traversing action of said traversing mechanism to aid in guiding and controlling the thread.

10. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim 9, in which said groove means in the outside surface of said cylindrical roll comprises a plurality of con,- centric grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at generally a 90 angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll.

11. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim 9, in'which said groove means comprises righthand helical grooves extending around the outside circumferenceof said roll and disposed at an angle toward said right-hand end of said roll of less than 90? with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll.

12. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim 9, in which said groove means comprises lefthand helical grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at an angle toward said left-hand end of said roll of less than 90 with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll.

13. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim 9, in which said groove means comprises a plurality of concentric grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at generally a 90 angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll and disposed in a medial portion of said roll, right-hand helical grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at an angle toward said right-hand end of said roll of less than 90 with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll and disposed in an outside right-hand portion of said roll, and helical grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at an angle toward said left-hand end of said roll of less than 90 with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll and disposed in an outside left-hand portion of said roll.

14. The combination, as set forth in claim 9, in which said groove means comprises. grooves having a generally triangular cross-sectional configuration.

15. The combination, as set forth in claim 9, in which said groove means comprises grooves having a generally square cross-sectional configuration.

16. The combination, as set forth in claim 9, in which said groove means comprises grooves having a generally sinusoidal cross-sectional configuration.

17. The combination of:

textile thread winding apparatus having a driven rotating drive roll, at least one freely rotatable package roll positioned on one side of said drive roll for engagement therewith to be driven thereby for the winding of thread and mounted for linear movement away from said drive roll as the thread package builds .thereon, a reciprocating thread traversing mechanism positioned on the other side of said drive roll for receiving thethread from a source and guiding the thread around said drive roll to said package roll while traversing the thread back and forth longitudinally of said drive roll, carriage means including a stationary portion and a moveable portion carried by said stationary portion for reciprocating linear movement and being secured to and carrying said package roll for reciprocating linear movement therewith, and means for maintaining a desired predetermined pressure relationship between said drive roll and said package roll and for linearly driving said package roll and comprising a variable torque reversible motor, a screw shaft connected to and rotated by said torque motor and a nut secured to said movable carriage portion and receivingsaid screw shaft therethrough for converting rotary movement of said screw shaft into linear movement of said movable carriage portion and package roll carried thereby; and

said drive roll having a plurality of groove means in the outside surface thereof which extend around the outside circumference thereof throughout the length thereof for cooperating with said traversing mechanism for controlling the traversing action on the thread by receiving the thread in respective grooves and holding the thread in the respective traversed positions which the strand is placed during the traversing action of said traversing mechanism to aid in guiding and controlling the thread.

18. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, in which said groove means comprises a plurality of concentric grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at generally a angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll and disposed in a medial portion of said roll, right-hand helical grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at an angle toward said right-hand end of said roll of less than 90 with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll and disposed in an outside right-hand portion of said roll, and helical grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at an angle toward said left-hand end of said roll of less than 90 with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll and disposed in an outside left-hand portion of said roll. 

1. In a strand winding apparatus having means for winding a package of the strand material under tension, the combination of: a reciprocating strand traversing means for receiving the strand being wound under tension and guiding the strand to the package winding means while traversing the strand back and forth to form a traversed wound package; and a cylindrical roll having a right-hand end and a left-hand end and positioned in the path of travel of the strand between said traversing means and the package winding means and having a plurality of groove means in the outside surface thereof which extend around the out side circumference thereof throughout the length thereof for cooperating with said traversing means for controlling the traversing action on the strand by receiving the strand in respective grooves and holding the strand in the respective traversed positions which the strand is placed during the traversing action of said traversing means to aid in guiding and controlling the strand.
 2. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, in which said groove means in the outside surface of said cylindrical roll comprises a plurality of concentric grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at generally a 90* angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll.
 3. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, in which said groove means comprises right-hand helical grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at an angle toward said right-hand end of said roll of less than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll.
 4. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, in which said groove means comprises left-hand helical grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at an angle toward said left-hand end of said roll of less than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll.
 5. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, in which said groove means comprises a plurality of concentric grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at generally a 90* angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll and disposed in a medial portion of said roll, right-hand helical grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at an angle toward said right-hand end of said roll of less than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll and disposed in an outside right-hand portion of said roll, and helical grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at an angle toward said left-hand end of said roll of less than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll and disposed in an outside left-hand portion of said roll.
 6. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, in which said groove means comprises grooves having a generally triangular cross-sectional configuration.
 7. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, in which said groove means comprises grooves having a generally square cross-sectional configuration.
 8. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, in which said groove means comprises grooves having a generally sinusoidal cross-sectional configuration.
 9. The combination of: textile thread winding apparatus having a driven rotating drive roll having a right-hand end and a left-hand end, at least one freely rotatably package roll positioned on one side of said drive roll for engagement therewith to be driven thereby for the winding of thread and mounted for linear movement away from said drive roll as the thread package builds thereon, and a reciprocating thread traversing mechanism positioned on the other side of said drive roll for receiving the thread from a source and guIding the thread around said drive roll to said package roll while traversing the thread back and forth longitudinally of said drive roll; and a plurality of groove means in the outside surface of said drive roll which extend around the outside circumference and throughout the length of said drive roll for cooperating with said traversing mechanism for controlling the traversing action on the textile thread by receiving the thread in respective grooves and holding the thread in the respective traversed positions which the thread is placed during the traversing action of said traversing mechanism to aid in guiding and controlling the thread.
 10. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim 9, in which said groove means in the outside surface of said cylindrical roll comprises a plurality of concentric grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at generally a 90* angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll.
 11. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim 9, in which said groove means comprises right-hand helical grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at an angle toward said right-hand end of said roll of less than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll.
 12. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim 9, in which said groove means comprises left-hand helical grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at an angle toward said left-hand end of said roll of less than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll.
 13. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim 9, in which said groove means comprises a plurality of concentric grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at generally a 90* angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll and disposed in a medial portion of said roll, right-hand helical grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at an angle toward said right-hand end of said roll of less than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll and disposed in an outside right-hand portion of said roll, and helical grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at an angle toward said left-hand end of said roll of less than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll and disposed in an outside left-hand portion of said roll.
 14. The combination, as set forth in claim 9, in which said groove means comprises grooves having a generally triangular cross-sectional configuration.
 15. The combination, as set forth in claim 9, in which said groove means comprises grooves having a generally square cross-sectional configuration.
 16. The combination, as set forth in claim 9, in which said groove means comprises grooves having a generally sinusoidal cross-sectional configuration.
 17. The combination of: textile thread winding apparatus having a driven rotating drive roll, at least one freely rotatable package roll positioned on one side of said drive roll for engagement therewith to be driven thereby for the winding of thread and mounted for linear movement away from said drive roll as the thread package builds thereon, a reciprocating thread traversing mechanism positioned on the other side of said drive roll for receiving the thread from a source and guiding the thread around said drive roll to said package roll while traversing the thread back and forth longitudinally of said drive roll, carriage means including a stationary portion and a moveable portion carried by said stationary portion for reciprocating linear movement and being secured to and carrying said package roll for reciprocating linear movement therewith, and means for maintaining a desired predetermined pressure relationship between said drive roll and said package roll and for linearly driving said package roll and comprisiNg a variable torque reversible motor, a screw shaft connected to and rotated by said torque motor and a nut secured to said movable carriage portion and receiving said screw shaft therethrough for converting rotary movement of said screw shaft into linear movement of said movable carriage portion and package roll carried thereby; and said drive roll having a plurality of groove means in the outside surface thereof which extend around the outside circumference thereof throughout the length thereof for cooperating with said traversing mechanism for controlling the traversing action on the thread by receiving the thread in respective grooves and holding the thread in the respective traversed positions which the strand is placed during the traversing action of said traversing mechanism to aid in guiding and controlling the thread.
 18. In a strand winding apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, in which said groove means comprises a plurality of concentric grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at generally a 90* angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll and disposed in a medial portion of said roll, right-hand helical grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at an angle toward said right-hand end of said roll of less than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll and disposed in an outside right-hand portion of said roll, and helical grooves extending around the outside circumference of said roll and disposed at an angle toward said left-hand end of said roll of less than 90* with respect to the longitudinal axis of said roll and disposed in an outside left-hand portion of said roll. 